CHAPTER XVIII 

 FAILING HEALTH, BUT UNFLAGGING ZEAL 



FROM an early period in the nineteenth century 

 Sir Joseph Banks seems to have been, more 

 or less, a confirmed invalid. An attack of 

 gout was to be apprehended every winter. 

 In some cases it would last over several months. He 

 would write to Bligh, or Flinders, or other distant friends, 

 with pathetic allusions to his growing infirmities. To 

 those about him it was a matter of grave concern at each 

 repeated occasion of taking to his bed. 



Yet, it never seemed possible for Banks to lose sight 

 of the numerous interests which life had for him. At the 

 time when he was absorbed with the new threat upon his 

 Presidency, at the close of 1802, his life was passed amid 

 much bodily suffering. Only his intimates knew that he 

 had " a racking cough, with aches and cramps all over," 

 and consequent sleeplessness. During the next winter, 

 he was in bed with gout for many weeks. His recovery 

 from this for which he gives grateful acknowledgment 

 and a handsome fee to his friend Home, was followed by 

 a long period of relief. But four years later, when he had 

 the troubles of the Icelanders on his hands, he was again 

 seriously ill. With all this, Banks's mind never seemed 

 to flag. There were as many activities as ever for him ; 

 and he was buoyant, and cheerful, and interested in life, 

 when actually out of pain. 



It must be said, however, that there was sometimes 

 visible a deterioration in his temper, and in his manner 



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